Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Order Tommy McLain's album I Ran Down Every Dream: ffm.to/irandowneverydream
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen
Step this way
The greatest show on hurt
Nine to three this morning
Step up and see Tommy McLain’s show
Come one, come all
See the greatest show on hurt
I’ve practiced for so long
I’m the greatest act on earth
There’s a showing in this town
Every night from nine ‘til three
If you wanna see the greatest show
Step right up, that’s me
And see me swim this whiskey river
With no life vest at all
Sit and watch me while I cry
One million teardrops fall
And catch me when I stumble
And fall down to the ground
Be sure to tell all of your friends
The greatest show’s in town
This way, ladies and gentlemen
Step this way
Come one, come all
The greatest show on hurt
Step up and see Tommy McLain’s show
If it’s a fast one that you want
I’ll still sing it blue
After all this heartache
That’s the best that I can do
Drop a dollar in the tip jar
Hear me lay it down
Welcome to this circus
I’m the brokenhearted clown
And up here in the spotlight
Hoping you won’t see
Hiding in the shadows
Is where I’d rather be
Still I sing my story
Even while the tears begin
And come this time tomorrow night
I’ll do it all again
Come one, come all
And see the greatest show on hurt
I’ve practiced for so long
I’m the greatest act on earth
There’s a showing in this town
Every night from nine ‘til three
If you wanna see the greatest show
Step right up, that’s me
This way, ladies and gentlemen
Step this way
Come one, come all
The greatest show on hurt
Tommy McLain photograph by Jim Herrington
Tommy McLain footage by Matthew Wilkinson
Sign up for the Tommy McLain newsletter: eepurl.com/hWSC7v
"The Greatest Show on Hurt"
Written by Tommy McLain and Nick Lowe
Hipgnosis Notes (ASCAP), Swamp Pop Pup Pub (BMI)
Yep Roc, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Tommy McLain: Vocals
C.C. Adcock: Dobro
Warren Storm: Drums
Dave Ranson: Bass
Steve Riley: Accordion
David Torkanowsky: Piano
Dr. Sick: Saw, Toy Piano
Ivan Neville: Backing Vocals
Produced by C.C. Adcock
#TommyMcLain #NickLowe #YepRocRecords
Order Tommy McLain's album I Ran Down Every Dream: ffm.to/irandowneverydream
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen
Step this way
The greatest show on hurt
Nine to three this morning
Step up and see Tommy McLain’s show
Come one, come all
See the greatest show on hurt
I’ve practiced for so long
I’m the greatest act on earth
There’s a showing in this town
Every night from nine ‘til three
If you wanna see the greatest show
Step right up, that’s me
And see me swim this whiskey river
With no life vest at all
Sit and watch me while I cry
One million teardrops fall
And catch me when I stumble
And fall down to the ground
Be sure to tell all of your friends
The greatest show’s in town
This way, ladies and gentlemen
Step this way
Come one, come all
The greatest show on hurt
Step up and see Tommy McLain’s show
If it’s a fast one that you want
I’ll still sing it blue
After all this heartache
That’s the best that I can do
Drop a dollar in the tip jar
Hear me lay it down
Welcome to this circus
I’m the brokenhearted clown
And up here in the spotlight
Hoping you won’t see
Hiding in the shadows
Is where I’d rather be
Still I sing my story
Even while the tears begin
And come this time tomorrow night
I’ll do it all again
Come one, come all
And see the greatest show on hurt
I’ve practiced for so long
I’m the greatest act on earth
There’s a showing in this town
Every night from nine ‘til three
If you wanna see the greatest show
Step right up, that’s me
This way, ladies and gentlemen
Step this way
Come one, come all
The greatest show on hurt
Tommy McLain photograph by Jim Herrington
Tommy McLain footage by Matthew Wilkinson
Sign up for the Tommy McLain newsletter: eepurl.com/hWSC7v
"The Greatest Show on Hurt"
Written by Tommy McLain and Nick Lowe
Hipgnosis Notes (ASCAP), Swamp Pop Pup Pub (BMI)
Yep Roc, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Tommy McLain: Vocals
C.C. Adcock: Dobro
Warren Storm: Drums
Dave Ranson: Bass
Steve Riley: Accordion
David Torkanowsky: Piano
Dr. Sick: Saw, Toy Piano
Ivan Neville: Backing Vocals
Produced by C.C. Adcock
#TommyMcLain #NickLowe #YepRocRecords
